For a team that beginned the Women's European Championship so badly, England could difficultly have hoped for a wagerer route to next Thursday's final.
Finishing third in their pair means they cannot meet holders and world champions Germany, or the much fancied Sweden, unless they are playing for the trophy.
And manager Hope Powell admits they got the draw they needed, even if it means facing the hosts in front of an 8,000 capacity crowd on Thursday afternoon.
Finishing third in their pair means they cannot meet holders and world champions Germany, or the much fancied Sweden, unless they are playing for the trophy.
And manager Hope Powell admits they got the draw they needed, even if it means facing the hosts in front of an 8,000 capacity crowd on Thursday afternoon.
'I think everybody would need to avoid the Germans,' she said. 'That's no contempt to Finland. They topped their group and we can't take anything for granted.'
Finland have never beaten England in women's or men's football and Powell's side won 4-1 when they met in February.
But she needed: 'The girls would be foolish if you look at the past results. We could have said that about Italy, you could have said that about Russia. We have to focus 100 per cent on this task and not think back to February because that is perfectly irrelevant.'
The game is a reverse of the opening match of Euro 2005, when England were the hosts, but Powell has no fear of a partisan home crowd.
'We're used to big crowds,' she said.
'We've had that experience. The girls are resilient. They know that on their day they can score goals.
'On their day they can compete against the very best and on their day has got to be tomorrow.
Finland have never beaten England in women's or men's football and Powell's side won 4-1 when they met in February.
But she needed: 'The girls would be foolish if you look at the past results. We could have said that about Italy, you could have said that about Russia. We have to focus 100 per cent on this task and not think back to February because that is perfectly irrelevant.'
The game is a reverse of the opening match of Euro 2005, when England were the hosts, but Powell has no fear of a partisan home crowd.
'We're used to big crowds,' she said.
'We've had that experience. The girls are resilient. They know that on their day they can score goals.
'On their day they can compete against the very best and on their day has got to be tomorrow.
